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Tips for Making Espresso• For best results, use fresh-ground, dark, espresso roast coffee.
• If espresso preground coffee is used, store the unused portion in an
airtight container and keep in a cool, dark area for up to one week.
• The grind of the coffee will affect the taste of the coffee and how
the appliance works. If the grind is too coarse, water will flow too
fast through the coffee and result in a weaker flavor. If the grind is
too fine, the flavor may be too strong or bitter, and the grounds
may clog the filter.
• For hotter espresso, preheat the filter holder, the ground espresso
filter, and the pod filter by first brewing water into the cups for a few
seconds and then emptying the brewed water. CAUTION: The filter
holder, ground espresso filter, and pod filter are hot.
• Espresso beans may be ground in a coffee grinder.For best results,
use the Hamilton Beach Custom Grind™ coffee grinder on the
espresso setting. If grinding espresso in a store or using a burr mill,
then use a setting that is one to two notches coarser than the
espresso setting.
•Grind your espresso so that it looks gritty, like salt or sand. It is too
fine if it looks like powder and feels like flour. If the coffee is ground
too fine, then the water will not flow through the coffee.
•Espresso pods make it even easier to brew a great cup of espresso
and cleanup is as easy as throwing out the used pod. Pods can be
purchased at many local coffee houses and specialty housewares
stores. A Web search for “coffee pods” will also connect you with
many coffee pod suppliers.
• Always use cold water to make coffee. Warm water or other liquids
could cause damage to the appliance.